Mike Coolbaugh facts for kids

Michael Robert Coolbaugh (born June 5, 1972 – died July 22, 2007) was an American baseball player and coach. He was born in Binghamton, New York. Mike was the brother of another major league player, Scott Coolbaugh. Sadly, Mike Coolbaugh passed away after being hit by a fast-moving baseball during a minor league game.

Mike Coolbaugh's Baseball Journey

Mike Coolbaugh graduated from Theodore Roosevelt High School in San Antonio, Texas, in 1990. He was chosen by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 16th round of the 1990 Major League Baseball Draft. Mike spent 11 seasons playing in the minor leagues. He even set a record for runs batted in during a season in the Southern League.

Playing in the Major Leagues

Coolbaugh never played for the Blue Jays. Instead, he was called up to the major leagues on July 15, 2001. At that time, he was playing for the Milwaukee Brewers' Triple-A team, the Indianapolis Indians. He played third base for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2001. In 2002, he played for the St. Louis Cardinals. Mike played in 44 games in his major league career. He mostly played third base or was a pinch hitter. His batting average was .183.

Playing in Korea

In 2003, Coolbaugh went to Korea to play baseball. His brother Scott had also played there. Mike played for the Doosan Bears in the KBO League. That year, he hit .215 with 10 Home runs and 24 runs batted in in 44 games.

Later Minor League Career

In 2004, Mike set a team record. He hit 30 home runs for the New Orleans Zephyrs. This team was connected to the Houston Astros. In 2005, Coolbaugh was still with the Astros' farm system. He played for their Triple-A team, the Round Rock Express. He hit 27 home runs and had 101 runs batted in. The Astros were planning to bring him up to the major leagues. However, he broke a bone in his left hand during a game. In 2006, he signed with the Kansas City Royals. But during spring training, he badly injured his left wrist. This injury led him to stop playing baseball professionally.

Mike Coolbaugh as a Coach

After his playing career, Mike Coolbaugh became a coach. On July 3, 2007, he was hired as the first base coach for the Tulsa Drillers. This team plays in the Texas League and is the Double-A team for the Colorado Rockies.

A Tragic Loss

On July 22, 2007, Mike Coolbaugh was coaching a game. He was standing in the first base coach's box. A player hit a very fast ball, called a line drive. The ball hit Mike in the neck. He was taken to the hospital but sadly passed away less than an hour later.

After the Accident

The game was stopped after the accident. The next day, the Texas League decided the game was complete. The Drillers and the other team, the Arkansas Travelers, also postponed their next game.

After the 2007 Major League Baseball season, the Colorado Rockies made it to the playoffs. The team players voted to give a share of their playoff winnings to Mike Coolbaugh's wife, Amanda. The Rockies' general manager, Dan O'Dowd, was very touched by this. Since the Rockies made it to the World Series, Amanda received over $233,000.

New Safety Rules

Because of this sad event, baseball officials made an important safety change. On November 8, 2007, Major League Baseball decided that all base coaches must wear helmets. This rule started in the 2008 season to help protect coaches.

Mike Coolbaugh's life and death are also written about in a book. It is called Heart of the Game: Life, Death, and Mercy in Minor League America.

Mike Coolbaugh's Lasting Legacy

To honor Mike Coolbaugh, the Texas League created an award in 2007. It is called the Mike Coolbaugh Memorial Coach of the Year Award. This award goes to the best hitting or pitching coach in the league. Mike's brother, Scott Coolbaugh, was the first person to receive this award.

In 2008, Minor League Baseball also started an award in his name. The annual Mike Coolbaugh Award is given to someone who shows a great work ethic in baseball. This person also needs to have good knowledge of the game and be skilled at helping young players.

On July 29, 2023, the Tulsa Drillers honored Mike Coolbaugh. They retired his jersey number, 29, in a special ceremony. This means no other player on the Drillers will wear that number again.

See also

• Baseball awards § Awards by Minor League Baseball (MiLB)
• Mike Coolbaugh § Notes
• List of baseball players who died during their careers